Melike Pala
09 October 2026•Update: 09 October 2026
Clashes broke out near Brussels Central Station during Friday's demonstration organized by Belgium's socialist trade union ABVV against the federal government's austerity policies, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse rioters, according to local media reports.
Hundreds of young people, many dressed in black and wearing masks, threw stones, glass bottles, wooden beams and trash cans at police, public broadcaster VRT and news agency Belga reported.
Police were deployed in large numbers around Brussels Central Station, where officers carried out preventive checks on groups of young people not wearing trade union colors.
Protesters also set off firecrackers and fireworks, while bicycles were set on fire at Albertina Square, sending a large plume of smoke into the air.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators and made several arrests.
The unrest occurred as ABVV held a national demonstration in Brussels, beginning at 10 am local time (0800GMT), with protesters marching from Brussels Central Station toward Brussels South Station under the slogan "Stay out of our pockets."
Police said 30,000 people participated in the demonstration, while ABVV had earlier estimated attendance at 50,000.
The union is protesting the federal government's austerity measures as officials consider a new budget.
It opposes potential measures affecting purchasing power, the wage indexation system and value-added tax (VAT), as well as plans to introduce annualized working time.
ABVV Chairman Bert Engelaar warned before the march that a nationwide strike could take place in November if the government crosses the union's "red lines."
Meanwhile, the Christian trade union ACV organized a separate protest on Friday involving hundreds of activists at the Brussels headquarters of Belgium's governing coalition parties.
Public transport and airport services were severely disrupted amid the demonstrations.
